Aquatic exercising assembly

ABSTRACT

An aquatic exercising assembly that includes first and second pairs of fin like members that are provided with first and second means for removably securing the members to the feet and hands of a user. The first and second pairs of members have manually adjustable valve members thereon that control the flow of water through openings defined in the members as the members are moved by a user in a body of water. By using the valve members to progressively decrease the effective area of the openings for the flow of water therethrough, the resistance offered by the first and second pairs of members in moving through the body of water is increased. Thus, as the arms and legs and associated muscles of a user are strengthened by exercising with the assembly, the arms and legs may be progressively subjected to increased exercising stresses by adjusting the valve members to further restrict the effective area of the openings. The first and second pairs of members may be used concurrently or individually to exercise both the legs or arms of the user.

United States Patent [1 1 Baker Oct. 21, 1975 AQUATIC EXERCISINGASSEMBLY [76] Inventor: Charles 0. Baker, 1805 Sherington Place, Apt.U306, Newport Beach, Calif. 92660 [22] Filed: Sept. 13, 1974 [21] Appl.No.: 505,561

[52] US. Cl. 272/57 R; 272/71; 272/1 B; 9/304; 9/307 [51] Int. Cl. A63B23/04 [58] Field of Search 9/301, 303, 304, 305, 306, 9/307, 308, 309;272/1 B, 57 R, 71

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,517,930 6/1970 Jacobsen272/71 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,041,324 7/1966 United Kingdom9/307 1,248,039 3/1959 France 9/307 21,052 6/1905 United Kingdom 9/304Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant ExaminerJoseph R. TaylorAttorney, Agent, or Firm-William C. Babcock [57] ABSTRACT An aquaticexercising assembly that includes first and second pairs of fin likemembers that are provided with first and second means for removablysecuring the members to the feet and hands of a user. The first andsecond pairs of members have manually adjustable valve members thereonthat control the flow of water through openings defined in the membersas the members are moved by a user in a body of water. By using thevalve members to progressively decrease the effective area of theopenings for the flow of water therethrough, the resistance offered bythe first and second pairs of members in moving through the body ofwater is increased. Thus, as the arms and legs and associated muscles ofa user are strengthened by exercising with the assembly, the arms andlegs may be progressively subjected to increased exercising stresses byadjusting the valve members to further restrict the effective area ofthe openings. The first and second pairs of members may be usedconcurrently or individually to exercise both the legs or arms of theuser.

AQUATIC EXERCISING ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention Aquatic exercising device.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the past, various exercises have beendevised and used to condition the body. Swimming has been found to beexcellent exercise and has the advantage that is a pleasure to perform.The lifting and moving of weights as individual units or in associationwith mechanical devices has also been employed in developing andconditioning the human body.

The strengthening and conditioning of the arms, legs and associatedmuscles by exercise results from the arms and legs being subjected toresistance as they are moved. In swimming the resistance to which thearms and legs are subjected is related to the rapidity with which theyare moved and the duration thereof. When weights or spring loadeddevices are used in exercising the strengthening and conditioning of thelegs and arms is related to the magnitude of the resistance offered bythe same, and the duration of the exercising.

The primary purpose in devising the present invention is to provide anaquatic exercising assembly that is free of weights and springs, and maybe used advantageously in conjunction with swimming to condition andstrengthen the arms, legs and associated muscles of a user.

Another object of the invention is to supply an aquatic exercisingassembly that includes first and second pairs of components that may bemounted concurrently on both the feet and arms of a user for theexercise of both the legs and arms in a body of water, but with eitherthe first or second pair of components being usable individuably whenbut the feet or arms of a user are desired to be subjected to exercise.

Yet another object of the invention is to furnish an aquatic exercisingdevice in which the resistance offered by the first and secondcomponents in moving through a body of water may be easily and quicklyadjusted by the user of the invention.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an aquatic exercisingassembly that is compact, light in weight, has a simple structure, andin the main may be fabricated from foamed polyolefins or the like byinjection molding.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An aquatic exercising assembly that includesfirst and second pairs of fin-like members that are provided with firstand second securing means to removably hold the members on the feet andhands of the user. The first and second pairs of members have manuallyadjustable valve means thereon that control the flow of water throughopenings formed in the members as the latter are moved in the body ofwater. By adjusting the valve members the effective areas of theopenings may be progressively decreased to increase the resistanceoffered by the first and second members as they are moved through thewater, with the arms, legs and associated muscles being graduallysubjected to exercising stresses of increased magnitude.

The exercising assembly may have the first and second pairs of fin-likemembers mounted concurrently on the feet and arms of a user forconcurrent use, but if desired, the first members may be used on thefeet alone to exercise this portion of the body should the user sodesire. It will, of course, be apparent that the second members may beused individually in the exercising of the arms and associated muscleswithout the use of the first members on the feet of the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one ofthe first fin-like members that may be removably mounted on a foot of auser for exercising the leg associated therewith in a body of water;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the first fin-like members shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of one of the firstfin-like members, taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a transverse cross sectional view of one of the first fin-likemembers taken on the line 44 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is atop plan view of one of the second fin-like members that isadapted to be removably secured to a hand of a user;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of one of the secondfin-like members taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a user in a body of water andindicating the manner in which the second fin-like members aremanipulated by movement of one or both arms of a user; and

FIG. 8 is the same view as shown in FIG. 7, but indicating the manner inwhich the first fin-like member is mounted on a foot of a user toexercise the leg associated therewith.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The exercising assembly includesa first pair of finlike members A and second pair of fin-like members Bthat are removably secured to the feet C and arms D of a user E as shownin FIGS. 7 and 8. When the user E has members A and B mounted thereon,the feet may be raised alternately as shown in FIG. 8 through the bodyof water F. Such movement of the feet C results in the exercise andconditioning of the legs associated therewith due to the resistanceoffered by the members A in moving through the body of water F.

As such exercising of the feet C takes place, the arms D of the user maylikewise be moved, with the arms being subjected to exercising stressesdue to the resistance offered by the members B in moving the body ofwater F. The resistance offered by the first and second pairs of membersA and B in moving through the body of water F may be varied byadjustable means that form a part of the members and will be describedlater in detail. The user A may move the first and second members A andB either concurrently or individually, depending on the portions of thehuman body that are desired to be exercised.

The first and second pairs of members A and B are preferably injectedmolded from foamed polyolefins. By the use of this technology, the firstand second pairs of members A and B may be fabricated with a desireddegree of stiffness and also formed with a skin that is highly resistantto abrasion.

Each of the first members A includes a first flat body 10 that has firstand second ends 12 and 14, aand first and second oppositely disposedside surfaces 10a and b respectively. Each body 10 adjacent the firstend 12 thereof has a first openings 16 of substantial area definedtherein, which opening extends between the first and second sidesurfaces 10a and 10b.

Each of the first bodies 10 has two parallel longitudinally extendingribs 18 situated on opposite sides of the first opening 16 and extendingrearwardly therefrom. The ribs 18 suppport a number of transversefingers 20 that extend inwardly towards one another, with the ribs andfingers cooperating to define longitudinally extending guides thatsnuggly and slidably engage a flat valve member 22 that is shown in bothFIGS. 2 and 3.

The valve member 22 as may best be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 hastransversely extending protuberances 24 extending outwardly therefrom.Protuberances 24 may be engaged by the user E of the first pair ofmembers A to manually adjust the valve members 22 relative to the firstopenings 16. Each first body 10 rearwardly of the ribs and fingers 18and 20 has two second laterally spaced ribs 26 that extend outwardlyfrom the first sur face 10a of the first body 10. Two laterally spaced,second openings 28 are formed in each of the first bodies 10 rearwardlyof the second ribs 26. Two rods 30 extend rearwardly from the secondribs 26 and are centered in the second openings 28, with the rearwardends of the rods merging into the portion of the first body 10rearwardly of the second openings 28. The rods 30 have a diameter thatis substantially less than the width of the second openings 28 forreasons that will later be explained. Each first body 10 as may be seenin FIGS. 1 and 2 is generally rectangular in shape, and arcuate flanges32 are provided thereon that extend outwardly from the corners thereof.The flanges 32 on the corners most adjacent the first openings 16 serveas stops to prevent the valve members 22 being inadvertently displacedfrom the ribs 18 and the fingers 20 as the valve member is movedforwardly relative to the first body 10.

The rods 30 serve the same function as above described in providingstops to prevent inadvertent displacement of a valve member 22 as it ismoved rearwardly on the first body 10 relative to opening 16.

The fingers 20 rearwardly of the first opening 16 and each of the firstbodies 10 are located below third openings 34, which third openings aredesirable in effecting flow of the foamed polyolefins in the injectionmolding of the first body 10. Each of the first bodies 10 is formed withan upwardly projecting arcuate shaped heel engaging member 36, whichmember is situated rearwardly a substantial distance from the secondopenings 28.

A pair of pliable straps 38 are provided that are preferably molded frompolypropylene. The straps 38 are of a width slightly less than thelength of the second openings 28. Each strap 38 has a first end portion38a of greater width than the balance of the strap, and this end portionhaving a transverse first slot 38b therein of sufficient length as topermit the strap to be extended therethrough when the strap is in a loopdefining configuration as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 in engagement with bothof the rods 30. A number of transverse longitudinally spaced secondslots 38c are formed in the second portion 38d of each strap 38. Eachstrap 38 has a transversely positioned hook 38c extending outwardlytherefrom that is situated between the first and second end portions 38aand 38b. When a users foot C is resting on the second surface 10b of afirst body A and in abutting contact with the heel engaging surfaces 36,the strap 38 is extended over the foot, and the second portions 38a isextended through first slot 38b and then doubled over as shown in FIG. 1for hook 38e to engage one of the second slots 38c. The strap 38 when sodis posed cooperates with the heel engaging member 36 to removablysupport the first member a on a foot C of a user as shown in FIG. 8, andpermits the user to exercise and condition the leg G associated with thefoot. The resistance offered by the first members A in moving throughthe body of water F is related to the effective area of the opening 16in permitting the flow of water through the body A.

The valve member 22 may be manually adjusted to a first position tocompletely obstruct the opening 16, in which case the first member Aoffers maximum resistance to being moved through the water. The valvemember 22 may also be adjusted to a second position where it does notobstruct the opening 16, and in this case. the first members A offers aminimum of resistance in being moved through the water in a directionnormal to the first surface 10a thereof. By manual adjustment, the valvemember 22 may be positioned in a third position intermediate the firstand second positions, and the resistance of the first member A in beingmoved through the water then lying between the maximum and minimum.

The first members A may be used as a pair to exercise the legs G of auser E without exercising the arms D, as shown in FIG. 8.

The pair of second members B, each includes a second flat body 40 thathas a first forward end 42 and second rearward end 44. Certain elementsin each of the second bodies 40 are of the same structure previouslydescribed in conjunction with the first member A, and these elements areidentified in FIGS. 5 and 6 with the same numerals previously used butwith primes being added thereto. The opening 16 is located adjacent thefirst end 32 of each second member B as shown in FIG. 5, as is valvemember 22. A strap 38' is located adjacent the second end 44 of eachmember B with which it is associated. Each second body 40 is formed withtwo laterally spaced raised portions 46, with each raised portion havingtwo longitudinally spaced first and second bores 48 and 50 formedtherein.

An elongate handle 52 is provided for each second body 40, with eachhandle having a pair of transverse bores 54 in the end portions thereof.A pair of screws 56 extend downwardly through bores 54 and bores 48 and50 to support the handle 52 in which they are associated at an anglerelative the longitudinal axis L of the second body 40 as shown in FIG.5. A pair of nuts 58 engage the screws 52 to support one of the handles52 at an appropriate angle on the second body 50 with which it isassociated. The handle 52 are angularly disposed relative to the secondbodies 40 to permit the handles to be more easily engaged by the fingers(not shown) on the hands H of a user E.

The second members B are used by first loosening the straps 38' topermit the hands H of the user to be inserted thereunder to grasp thehandles 52, with the straps then being tightened to snuggly engage thewrist of the user. The arms D of the user are then moved through thewater F, with the second members B resisting this movement, and thedegree of resistance of the second members B being related to theeffective area of the openings 16'. The effective areas of openings 16are controlled by adjusting the valve members 22' relative to theopenings in the same manner as previously described in using the firstmembers A.

The arms D of the user when the second members B are mounted on thehands H thereof, may be moved through the body of water F, and the armsexercised independently or the legs G or the arms D and the legs G maybe concurrently exercised if so desired.

The use and operation of the invention has been explained previously indetail and need not be repeated.

I claims:

1. An aquatic exercising assembly in which a portion of the componentsthereof are manually adjustable to subject the arms and legs of a userand associated muscles to desired degrees of stressing as the legs andarms are moved through a body of water with said assembly mountedthereon, said assembly including:

a. first and second pairs of fin defining members having first andsecond ends and first and second oppositely disposed sides, said firstand second members adjacent said first ends thereof having first andsecond transverse openings therein;

b. first and second pairs of flat valve members of greater transverseareas than said first and second openings;

. first and second means on said first and second pairs of members forslidably and adjustably supporting said first and second pairs of valvemembers adjacent said first sides relative said openings to permit saidfirst and second pairs of valve members to be disposed in firstpositions where they completely obstruct said openings, said positionswhere said valve members do not obstruct said openings, and thirdpositions intermediate said first and second positions where said firstand second pairs of valve members partially obstruct said openings;

d. third means on said first pair of members for removably securing saidfirst pair of members to the feet of said user;

e. fourth means on said second pair of members for removably grippingthe wrists of said user; and

f. a pair of transverse handles on said second pair of members that maybe removably gripped by the hands of said user when said wrists of saiduser are engaged by said fourth means, with said first and second pairsof members when moved through said body of water by the arms and legs ofsaid user offering resistance to being so moved, with the degree of saidresistance and the degree of exercise to which said arms and legs ofsaid user are subjected in overcoming said resistance being controlledby the positions of said first and second pairs of valve membersrelative to said openings to regulate the flow of water therethrough.

2. An assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said openings in saidfirst and second pairs of members are positioned forwardly towards saidfirst ends thereof beyond the feet and hands of said user when saidfirst and second members are mounted on said feet and hands.

3. An assembly as defined in claim 1 which in addition includes:

g. arcuate shaped heel engaging members that extend outwardly from saidsecond sides of said first pair of members.

4. An assembly as defined in claim 3 in which said first pair ofmembers, said first means and said heel engaging members are integrallyformed as single units from foamed polyolefins.

5. An assembly as defined -in claim 1 in which said first means are twolaterally spaced parallel ribs of transverse L-shape that extendoutwardly from said first surfaces of each of said first members andslidably and frictionally grip said first valve members to the extentthat said first valve members will remain in any one of said positionsto which they are adjusted by said user.

6. An assembly as defined in claim 5 in which said assembly in additionincludes:

g. stop means projecting outwardly from said first surfaces of saidfirst pair of members that limit the movement of said first pair ofvalve members relative to said ribs to the extent said first valvemembers cannot be inadvertently displaced from said ribs.

7. An assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said third means includes:

g. a pair of heel engaging members that extend outwardly from saidsecond surfaces of said first pair of members;

h. a pair of straps that are adjustable as to the effective lengththereof, each of said straps having first and second end portions; and

i. anchor means on said first pair of members for engaging said firstand second end portions of said straps to maintain said straps abovesaid second surfaces and in transverse relationship thereto, with saidstraps engaging the feet of said user when the heels of said feet are incontact with said heel engaging members.

8. An assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said pair of handles areelongate bars, and said assembly further including:

g. fifth means on said second pair of fifth defining members forselectively holding said bars in either first or second transversepositions on said second pair of members where they may be grasped bythe hands of said user.

9. An aquatic exercising assembly in which the components thereof aremanually adjustable to subject the legs of a user and associated musclesto desired degrees of stressing as the legs are moved through a body ofwater with said assemblies mounted thereon, said assembly including:

a. a pair of fin defining members having first and second ends and firstand second oppositely disposed sides, said members adjacent said firstend thereof having openings formed therein;

b. a first pair of flat valve members of greater transverse area thansaid openings;

c. first means on said pair of members for slidably and adjustablysupporting said pair of valve members adjacent said first side relativeto said openings to permit said pair of valve members to be disposed infirst positions where they completely obstruct said openings, secondpositions where said valve members do not obstruct said valve openings,and third positions intermediate said first and second positions wheresaid pair of valve members partially obstruct said openings;

d. second means on said pair of members to removably secure said pair ofmembers to the feet of said user, with the feet of said user when movedthrough said body of water with said members mounted thereon beingsubjected to exercising stresses due to the resistance of said membersin moving through said water, and the degree of said resistance beingrelated to the position said valve members bear relative to saidopenings, to control the effective areas of said openings and themagnitude of flow of water therethrough as said members are moved bysaid user in exercising in said body of water.

10. An aquatic exercising assembly in which a portion of the componentsthereof are manually adjustable to subject the arms of a user andassociated muscles to desired degrees of stressing as the arms are movedthrough a body of water with said assembly mounted thereon, saidassembly including:

a. a pair of fin defining members having first and second ends, andfirst and second oppositely disposed sides, said member adjacent saidfirst ends thereof having first and second transverse openings therein;

b. a pair of flat valve members of greater transverse area than saidopenings, and adjacently disposed to said first sides of said members;

c. first means on said pair of members for slidably and adjustablysupporting said pair of valve members adjacent said first side andrelative to said openings to permit said pair of valve members to bedisposed in first positions where they completely obstruct saidopenings, second positions where said valve members do not obstruct saidopenings, and third positions intermediate said first and secondpositions where said valve members partially obstruct said openings;

d. second means on said second sides of said pair of members forremovably engaging the wrists of said user;

e. a pair of transverse handles on said second sides of said pair ofmembers that may be removably gripped by the fingers of said user whensaid wrist of said user are engaged by said second means, with said pairof members when moved through a body of water by the arms of said useroffering resistance to being so moved, with the degree of exercise towhich said arms of said user are subjected in overcoming said resistancebeing controlled by the positions of said pair of valve members relativeto said openings to regulate the flow of water through the latter.

1. An aquatic exercising assembly in which a portion of the components thereof are manually adjustable to subject the arms and legs of a user and associated muscles to desired degrees of stressing as the legs and arms are moved through a body of water with said assembly mounted thereon, said assembly including: a. first and second pairs of fin defininG members having first and second ends and first and second oppositely disposed sides, said first and second members adjacent said first ends thereof having first and second transverse openings therein; b. first and second pairs of flat valve members of greater transverse areas than said first and second openings; c. first and second means on said first and second pairs of members for slidably and adjustably supporting said first and second pairs of valve members adjacent said first sides relative said openings to permit said first and second pairs of valve members to be disposed in first positions where they completely obstruct said openings, said positions where said valve members do not obstruct said openings, and third positions intermediate said first and second positions where said first and second pairs of valve members partially obstruct said openings; d. third means on said first pair of members for removably securing said first pair of members to the feet of said user; e. fourth means on said second pair of members for removably gripping the wrists of said user; and f. a pair of transverse handles on said second pair of members that may be removably gripped by the hands of said user when said wrists of said user are engaged by said fourth means, with said first and second pairs of members when moved through said body of water by the arms and legs of said user offering resistance to being so moved, with the degree of said resistance and the degree of exercise to which said arms and legs of said user are subjected in overcoming said resistance being controlled by the positions of said first and second pairs of valve members relative to said openings to regulate the flow of water therethrough.
 2. An assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said openings in said first and second pairs of members are positioned forwardly towards said first ends thereof beyond the feet and hands of said user when said first and second members are mounted on said feet and hands.
 3. An assembly as defined in claim 1 which in addition includes: g. arcuate shaped heel engaging members that extend outwardly from said second sides of said first pair of members.
 4. An assembly as defined in claim 3 in which said first pair of members, said first means and said heel engaging members are integrally formed as single units from foamed polyolefins.
 5. An assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said first means are two laterally spaced parallel ribs of transverse L-shape that extend outwardly from said first surfaces of each of said first members and slidably and frictionally grip said first valve members to the extent that said first valve members will remain in any one of said positions to which they are adjusted by said user.
 6. An assembly as defined in claim 5 in which said assembly in addition includes: g. stop means projecting outwardly from said first surfaces of said first pair of members that limit the movement of said first pair of valve members relative to said ribs to the extent said first valve members cannot be inadvertently displaced from said ribs.
 7. An assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said third means includes: g. a pair of heel engaging members that extend outwardly from said second surfaces of said first pair of members; h. a pair of straps that are adjustable as to the effective length thereof, each of said straps having first and second end portions; and i. anchor means on said first pair of members for engaging said first and second end portions of said straps to maintain said straps above said second surfaces and in transverse relationship thereto, with said straps engaging the feet of said user when the heels of said feet are in contact with said heel engaging members.
 8. An assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said pair of handles are elongate bars, and said assembly further including: g. fifth means on said second pair of fifth defining members for selectively holding said bars in either first or second transverse positions on said second pair of members where they may be grasped by the hands of said user.
 9. An aquatic exercising assembly in which the components thereof are manually adjustable to subject the legs of a user and associated muscles to desired degrees of stressing as the legs are moved through a body of water with said assemblies mounted thereon, said assembly including: a. a pair of fin defining members having first and second ends and first and second oppositely disposed sides, said members adjacent said first end thereof having openings formed therein; b. a first pair of flat valve members of greater transverse area than said openings; c. first means on said pair of members for slidably and adjustably supporting said pair of valve members adjacent said first side relative to said openings to permit said pair of valve members to be disposed in first positions where they completely obstruct said openings, second positions where said valve members do not obstruct said valve openings, and third positions intermediate said first and second positions where said pair of valve members partially obstruct said openings; d. second means on said pair of members to removably secure said pair of members to the feet of said user, with the feet of said user when moved through said body of water with said members mounted thereon being subjected to exercising stresses due to the resistance of said members in moving through said water, and the degree of said resistance being related to the position said valve members bear relative to said openings, to control the effective areas of said openings and the magnitude of flow of water therethrough as said members are moved by said user in exercising in said body of water.
 10. An aquatic exercising assembly in which a portion of the components thereof are manually adjustable to subject the arms of a user and associated muscles to desired degrees of stressing as the arms are moved through a body of water with said assembly mounted thereon, said assembly including: a. a pair of fin defining members having first and second ends, and first and second oppositely disposed sides, said member adjacent said first ends thereof having first and second transverse openings therein; b. a pair of flat valve members of greater transverse area than said openings, and adjacently disposed to said first sides of said members; c. first means on said pair of members for slidably and adjustably supporting said pair of valve members adjacent said first side and relative to said openings to permit said pair of valve members to be disposed in first positions where they completely obstruct said openings, second positions where said valve members do not obstruct said openings, and third positions intermediate said first and second positions where said valve members partially obstruct said openings; d. second means on said second sides of said pair of members for removably engaging the wrists of said user; e. a pair of transverse handles on said second sides of said pair of members that may be removably gripped by the fingers of said user when said wrist of said user are engaged by said second means, with said pair of members when moved through a body of water by the arms of said user offering resistance to being so moved, with the degree of exercise to which said arms of said user are subjected in overcoming said resistance being controlled by the positions of said pair of valve members relative to said openings to regulate the flow of water through the latter. 